Heat exchanger



Patented Jan. 13, 1931 UNITED STATES usasse PATENT OFFIOE COMPANY, OF JEANNETTE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA HEAT EXCHANGER Application filed March 29, 1928. Serial No. 265,747.

The present invention relates broadly to the art of heat exchange, and more particularly to apparatus of the character frequently referred to as two-surface heaters or twosurface condensers. Such apparatus ordinarily embodies a plurality of tubes extending continuously from one header to another.

Not infrequently the tubes of apparatus of this character are of a difierent material from that constituting the shell of the apparatus, and therefore have a different coefiicient of expansion, the expansion of the tubes being greater than the expansion of the shell. In order to take care of this condition, it has heretofore been customary in the art to provide one or more floating heads, to provide one or more flexible diaphragms or to provide special sealing means for the tubes. It will be apparent that in any apparatus employing special joints or sealing means there is a possibility of leakage due to the movement of the tubes. While the leakage for any individual tube may be substantially negligible, the combined leakage in large condensers, for example, is serious, as such condensers frequently utilize as many as ten thousand tubes in a single unit.

The present invention has for one of its objects the provision of an improved structure of the general character herein referred to, adapted to effectively take care of dimensional changes due to expansion or contraction, and to minimize the possibility of leakage between the tubes and the .parts to which they are connected.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes of illustration only, certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, it being understood that the drawings do not define the limits of my invention as changes in the construction and operation disclosed therein may be made without departing either from the spirit of the invention or the scope of my broader claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a condenser, diagrammatically illustrating one embodiment of my invention, and

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view through a condenser, illustrating another embodiment of my invention.

In accordance with the present invention there maybe provided a heat exchange unit comprising a shell 2, having a vapor inlet 3. Each end of the shell may cooperate with a tube sheet 4, in' which the ends of the tubes 5 are suitably secured, as well understood inthe art. Cooperating with each of the tube sheets is a header 6, one of these headers serving as an inlet for the fluid to be passed through the tubes and the other serving as an outlet.

In order,- to prevent the tubes from sagging in apparatus of this general character, it is customary-to provide intermediate supporting means for 'the'tubes. Such a supporting means is illustrated in the drawings as comprising an intermediate plate 7, having openings through which the-tubes pass. The shell 2 may be provided at any desired number of points around its periphery with projections 8 adapted to cooperate with opposite sides of the support 7 and guided thereby it is permitted to move transversely of the shell, but not axially thereof. At its upper portion, the support 7 cooperates with supporting means of such nature as to substantially or entirely counter-balance the weight thereof. As illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, this supporting means may comprise one or more rods 9, secured at their lower ends to the support 7 and projecting upwardly through lugs 10 formed integrally with or secured to the shell 2 or otherwise supported thereby. Surrounding the upper ends of each of the rods 9 is a compression spring 11, the initial compression of which may be adjusted by a follower 12, with which cooperates anut 13.

In constructing a heat exchange apparatus in accordance with the present invention, each of the tubes will preferably be given an initial deflection in an upward direction as indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings, it being desirable that the tubes all be placed in the shell so that they are deflected in the same direction. Thereafter, upon an increase in the length of the tubes, theamount of deflection will increase, the increase beto the parts already described are designated. by the same reference characters having a thereof, the weight being carried by the spring or springs 11, thereby permitting free deflection of the tubes. This deflection may take place without relative movement between that portion of the tubes sealed within the tube sheets 4 and the sheets themselves. In this manner the sheets between the tubes and the tube sheets may be kept tight.

In Figure 2 of the drawings there is illustrated a slightly modified embodiment of the invention, in which parts corresponding prime aflixedthereto. In the embodiment herein illustrated, the support 7 has a link 9 pivotally connected to one arm of a lever 14 having a pivotal support 15. The opposite arm of the lever carries an adjustable counter-balance 16 whereby the desired balancing effect of the support 7 may be obtained.

Certain advantages of the present invention arise from the provision of a heat exchange apparatus embodying a rigid shell having tube plates rigidly secured thereto and carried thereby with tubes rigidly secured to the tube plates and means for flexibly supporting intermediate portions of the tubes. It will be understood that the expressions rigidly and flexible as herein utilized and as used in the claims are relative expressions only, the terms being used by way of definition, and not by way of limitation.

I claim 1. In a tubular heat exchange unit, a rigid shell, a tube plate rigidly carried thereby, a plurality of tubes rigidly fastened to said tube plate, and flexible supporting means for intermediate portions of the tubes.

2. In a tubular heat exchange unit, a shell, a tube plate carried thereby, a plurality of substantially uniformly deformed tubes secured to said plate, and flexible supporting means for intermediate portions of said tubes.

3. In a tubular heat exchange unit, a shell, a tube plate secured thereto, tubes fastened to said tube plate, and-a flexibly supported tube support Within said shell.

4. In a tubular heat exchange unit, a shell, a tube plate secured thereto, tubes fastened to said tube plate, and a flexibly supported tube support within said shell, said tube support including means for counter-balancing the weight thereof.

5. In a tubular heat exchange unit, a shell, a tube plate secured thereto, tubes fastened to said tube plate, and a flexibly supported tube support within said shell, said tube support being movable transversely of the shell and being held against movement axially thereof.

6. In a tubular heat exchange unit, a shell, tube plates secured thereto, tubes fastened to said plates, and flexible supporting means for the intermediate portions of said tubes movable in a direction transversely thereof.

7. In a tubular heat exchange unit, a shell, tube plates secured thereto, tubes fastened to said plates, and flexible supporting means for the intermediate portions of said tubes mov able in a direction transversely thereof, there being means for counter-balancing the weight of said supporting means. a

8. In a tubular heat exchange device, a shell, a plurality of tubes mounted in said shell, and transversely movable supporting means for the intermediate portions of said tubes mounted to insure an initial bow to said tubes, there being means for relieving the tubes of a part of the Weightof the supporting means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

RAYMOND N. EHRHART. 

